Not that I care, but what’s with the language in Seven’s recent media releases for SAS this year? Trying to be ‘cool’ and ‘rough’ to match the show and its demographic?
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Reality bites
Cocky Locky’s “voodoo magic” angers the DS
Tonight on SAS Australia, a brutal beach beasting claimed another recruit while a treacherous waterfall climb fired up old hostilities.
In the first savage test of the day, teams of recruits lugged heavy Zodiacs along a beach and suffered through a gruelling beach beasting before a punishing surf paddle.
A struggling Ellia Green gave it her all but ultimately decided to withdraw, saying: “It’s an incredible course and incredible people are in it and it takes an incredible person to do it, so I am proud of myself. I just have a lot to work on that’s all.”
In another test of leadership and teamwork, teams scaled the cliff face of a thunderous 80 metre waterfall, transporting essential equipment safely to the top.
Despite Pauly being leader of Team Bravo, Locky dictated the plan. The pair had a fierce confrontation in the car journey home, with Pauly later attempting to make peace. Another argument ensued before Locky begrudgingly agreed to move forward.
Wayne Carey finally succumbed to his long-standing shoulder injury, choosing to VW after a physically gruelling day on course, explaining: “I don’t want to make a mockery of this. I can’t climb up a ladder, it’s f***ed.”
During a late night kit inspection, Locky was outed by the DS as the biggest liability within the group. Locky teared up, struggling to come to terms with the accusation.
The DS hauled Locky in for questioning, angered by his messy kit and attitude, with Chief Instructor Ant Middleton telling him: “Do not get us confused with being on f***ing Survivor or Bachelor, that’s not what this course is about.
“Your head is in the wrong place. It’s in TV reality space, not military space. If you want to play the hero go and serve your country. Do not play being a hero, that is the biggest insult for us that you can do.”
Monday 7.30pm, recruits face off in a tug-of-war battle but the biggest showdown comes when a fuming Richard Buttrose takes on the DS. Plus, the bloodiest and most brutal test yet, Millie Boyle reveals why she’s so driven and Anna Heinrich’s confession stuns the DS.
Monday night
The ultimate face-off
Ant Middleton culls Richard Buttrose after an explosive war of words
Tonight on SAS Australia, an unprecedented fiery exchange between a recruit and the DS sent shockwaves through the group.
During a cliffside tug-of-war task, convicted drug dealer Richard Buttrose was accused of cheating and cutting corners by the DS, despite both he and his opponent pulling the rope too early.
Deeply offended at the accusations, Richard decided he’d had enough, announcing: “I don’t want to be part of your stupid TV show anymore.”
Chief Instructor Ant Middleton fired up and an explosive war of words ensued, with Richard ultimately deciding to stick with the course.
Back at base camp, Ant had a message for the recruits: “This course isn’t for most of you, if not all of you. You might not understand it. You might not be physically capable or psychologically robust enough to get through.
“If that is the case and the pressure is too much, you are a volunteer, you can leave at any stage. Everything we do has a purpose. Everything we do relates to being on the battlefield. It is not a scripted fing course. If it’s too much for you – f off!”
He then gave Richard an ultimatum: “Do you want to be here number 13, yes or no?” before taking his number.
After the shock cull, duty recruit Millie Boyle tried to diffuse tension between the recruits, before the DS brought her in for questioning after noting her “cold stone killer” execution of the morning’s task.
The NRLW player was emotional as she explained how she’d been forced to grow up at a young age after her rugby playing dad sustained a serious head injury in a farming accident 11 years ago.
“I think that Dad would know that I have a lot of ticker in me and that I can push myself a lot further than I know that I can,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint him or the rest of my family knowing that I could have done a better job.”
In the second gruelling task of the day, recruits had to attack the assault course in pairs, completing lap after sickening lap; which left them bloodied, bruised and utterly exhausted. Boxer Ebanie Bridges even lost a chunk of her hair in the punishing task, declaring in disbelief: “My whole fringe is gone!”
Anna Heinrich, who had been teamed with Barry Hall, was particularly impressive and the DS decided to dig deeper into her mindset. They were surprised to learn she’s been plagued by negative thoughts and self-doubt since a young age.
“My whole life I’ve had to prove to everybody that I was more than just blonde hair and I think it’s just stayed with me,” Anna confessed. “Everything I do, I feel I’m not good enough until I’ve done it. I just want to prove to myself, prove to my family… I’ve got a 10 month old. I want to show her that her mum can kick ass.”
Tuesday 7.30pm, in a heart-stopping abduction scenario, recruits have to escape from the trunk of a moving car, which brings out reckless behaviour in some; while a vicious round of hand-to-hand combat results in a shock medical VW.
Tuesday night
You’re not Rambo!
A fake hero gets a dressing down before a real injury claims the next scalp
Tonight on SAS Australia, Barry Hall’s time was cut short by a crushing injury, while Locky Gilbert’s reckless move put him on thin ice with the DS.
As the 10 remaining recruits passed the halfway mark on course, Pauly was again at odds with the other celebrities who believe he’s not pulling his weight around base camp.
The day’s first task saw recruits re-enact a hostage scenario, bound and placed in the boot of a moving car before trying to make their escape from the vehicle and their captors.
While some recruits waited for the right moment to break free, others like Locky Gilbert timed their escape too soon, drawing the ire of the DS: “You’re not Rambo!”
The DS decided to dig deeper into Barry’s motivations after noticing his calm approach to the task, but as the AFL great revealed, things weren’t always that way.
“My childhood was a little bit dysfunctional,” Barry admitted during an emotional interrogation. “There wasn’t much love in the household. I would go home to Dad and brag about the fights I was in and try and get his approval. Being a Dad myself now, I can’t get my head around how you could be the way he was.
“I’ve got a bit of an anger issue or I had an anger issue and it builds up, explodes and I go f***, what did I do that for? I’ve done some things I probably shouldn’t have but I don’t actually regret them because it’s got me to the place that I’m at now.”
The battle-weary recruits’ next task was rounds of hand-to-hand combat, designed to determine the King – or Queen – of the Ring.
Barry popped a rib out during a clash with Locky, the pain ultimately driving his reluctant decision to withdraw from the course: “I didn’t want to go out with injury. Wiser heads prevail. I would have loved to have completed it but stuff happens.”
Despite his success in the wrestling battle, Locky’s reckless behaviour in the escape task angered the DS, who later questioned the “f***ing fake hero” about his selfish attitude.
“I totally 100% agree, I know I’m selfish,” said Locky. “It kills me that I do it because I know that it hurts everyone. I know that people can’t work with me when I’m just thinking about myself. That’s the reason I’m here because I think I’m learning how to deal with it.”
Girl power
Women outnumber men on SAS Australia
The girls outnumber the guys in a sneak peek of next week’s SAS Australia , 7.30pm Monday to Tuesday on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Five of the nine recruits still standing in the final days of selection are female – Anna Heinrich, Ebanie Bridges, Melissa Wu, Millie Boyle and Riana Crehan.
The four males still on course are Darius Boyd, Geoff Huegill, Locky Gilbert and Pauly Fenech.
The nine remaining celebrities have already survived seven days of the brutal 14-day selection course, designed to push them to their physical, psychological and emotional limits.
Exhausted, bruised and battered, they are about to tackle their most daunting challenge yet – a dangerous tear gassing exercise which sees Melissa require medical assistance after passing out and slamming face first into the ground.
Other upcoming tasks include a helicopter ladder crossing and the legendary casualty evacuation drill, which Millie describes as: “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
As some recruits falter, others will soar while striving to become a better version of themselves.
No other test asks as much, or means as much, to the few who will make it through.
The nine celebrities still on course attempting to pass SAS selection are:
Anna Heinrich, 34 – TV Personality
Darius Boyd, 34 – Retired NRL Star
Ebanie Bridges, 35 – Professional Boxer
Geoff Huegill, 42 – Olympic Swimming Legend
Locky Gilbert, 32 – Reality TV Star
Melissa Wu, 29 – Olympic Diver
Millie Boyle, 23 – NRLW Player
Pauly Fenech, 51 – Comedian
Riana Crehan, 34 – Motorsports Presenter
When does this show end?
The current season starts on Three New Zealand next Wednesday (March 16) at 9pm.
Thank goodness. What’s scheduled after that?
Dark horse Darius Boyd opens up while lone wolf Pauly Fenech comes under attack
Tonight on SAS Australia, Darius Boyd was thrust into the spotlight before revealing his painful past and Pauly Fenech’s mistakes sparked anger among the group
Already on the outer with the other recruits, Pauly came under attack after a misplaced box of matches literally set the place on fire, before he was found with Ebanie’s missing fork and Millie’s missing sock. Even the DS were tiring of Pauly’s antics with Ollie Ollerton telling him to start switching on: “If you want to be here at the end, you’ve got to change your attitude.”
The first challenge of the day for the fatigued recruits was a mid-air helicopter ladder crossing, completed in pairs. The only two recruits to execute the task successfully were Darius and Anna Heinrich, with Chief Instructor Ant Middleton congratulating them on an outstanding effort.
Recruits then faced one of the most gruelling tasks on SAS selection – hauling a 230 kilogram log up a steep, treacherous bush track in just one hour. Team leader Darius failed to lead, while the course’s heaviest and oldest recruits – Geoff Huegill and Pauly – fell way behind the pack, angering DS Clint Emerson: “My grandparents f*** faster than you move and they’re dead!”NRLW player Millie Boyle stepped up to take charge but it was too late, with Ollie describing the failed mission as an “absolute shower of f***ing shite.”
Back at base, Darius required medical assistance for a painful splinter embedded deep under his fingernail, before being called in for questioning by the DS, who were keen to learn more about the quiet, emotionally cut off, “dark horse”.
The retired NRL star revealed he’s never met his father and that as a teenager, he was estranged from his mum for eight years after she was diagnosed with major depression.
Darius then admitted he struggled with his own mental health for a number of years, which saw him let down a bunch of people, including wife Kayla who he was unfaithful to: “My whole life just fell apart, fell to shit to be honest.”
After hitting rock bottom, Darius sought help through a mental health facility and has since rebuilt himself and his relationships.
“It definitely took time for myself and Kayla,” he said. “But [we’re] in such a really good space now after some of the hardships we’ve gone through. I’m really happy to be in this space and be able to bring our daughters into a really loving environment.”
Tuesday 7.30pm, Melissa Wu collapses in one of the most harrowing tasks on selection; a torturous casualty evacuation leads to a real-life lesson from the battlefield; Riana Crehan opens up about her rough year; and another exhausted recruit hands in their number.
Tuesday
[spoiler]
On fire from the inside out
Olympian Melissa Wu dives face first into the ground in harrowing tear gas task
Tonight on SAS Australia, Melissa Wu took a dive, suffering the debilitating effects of tear gas, while polarising recruit Pauly Fenech called time on his SAS journey.
In one of the most harrowing tasks on selection, recruits entered a shipping container filled with noxious tear gas mask-free and attempted to free a bound hostage.
“Tear gas burns,” said Chief Instructor Ant Middleton. “It burns your eyes, it burns your nose, it burns your lungs. It’s almost as if you’re on fire from the inside out.”
In confronting scenes, Olympic diver Melissa Wu passed out as she exited the container, falling face first into the ground and requiring urgent medical attention.
Motorsports presenter Riana Crehan was one of the few recruits to successfully complete the task, so the DS decided to find out more about her motivations for doing the course.
“Last year was a really difficult year personally and professionally for me,” Riana explained. “I lost my job because of COVID, my husband lost his job because of COVID and then my dad died so it felt like we got kicked in the teeth a little bit. It really just makes you reassess what you’re doing and the people that are close to you and just making the most of any opportunity.”
Still reeling from the tear gassing, recruits were then faced with one of the most physically arduous tasks on the battlefield – an eight kilometre casualty evacuation through unforgiving terrain.
Team leaders Anna Heinrich and Millie Boyle pushed hard through the elements, which included uneven rocky obstacles and waist-deep water. Barely functioning and on the brink of collapse, Millie’s team Bravo completed the mission with only minutes to spare with Millie describing the task as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done”. Anna was noticeably upset after her team failed to finish within the time limit, despite their best efforts.
In a sobering moment, DS Clint Emerson reminded the fatigued recruits why a casualty evac is “without a doubt the most important f***ing thing you’ll ever do” by showing them his metal wristband featuring the names of comrades who had been killed in action.
The exhausting exercise proved too much for the course’s oldest recruit, lone wolf Pauly, who chose to hand in his number, saying: “I feel fantastic, it was a great experience. I’m just a little too old and probably not quite fit enough.
“I guess the only thing I regret is I clashed with some people. But you know that’s just me and at the end of the day for an old dog I go alright you know.”
Monday 7.30pm, a day of cold water torture pushes the exhausted recruits to their limits and tears flow when they have to reveal their most shameful secrets.
Cold war
Water torture sends Geoff Huegill packing
Tonight on SAS Australia, Geoff Huegill withdrew from the course as a day of cold water torture pushed the exhausted recruits to their limits.
On day 10, with just four days of the selection course to go, recruits were physically and psychologically drained while tackling the first task: a surf immersion and beach beasting in bitterly cold water and wind.
After a torturous two hours, Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill chose to hand in his number, telling Chief Instructor Ant Middleton he was spent.
“I’ve achieved more than I wanted to,” said Geoff. “It’s nice to know that I’ve still got it. I’ve gone through a lot of setbacks and challenges over the last couple of years but to be in an environment like this where success breeds success… Opportunities like this don’t come in your life on a daily basis so I’m going to take that energy and that drive and apply it to a lot more things.”
The seven remaining recruits courageously shared their most shameful secrets with each other, an exercise designed to break down their emotional walls and build essential bonds.
Riana Crehan opened up about the anger she felt towards her father; Darius Boyd reflected on the resentment he felt towards his mother; and Melissa Wu revealed the shame she felt at not being there more for her younger sister, who tragically took her own life seven years ago.
Recruits were split into teams for a bush survival test to secure shelter, fire and clean drinking water – for which a condom proved the surprise key to success.
The exhausting day ended with a cold water beasting in the early hours of the morning on the parade square. Recruits were paired up and told if they chose to withdraw, their partner must also leave the course.
Anna Heinrich struggled immensely in the savage, freezing cold beasting – even showing signs of hypothermia – but pushed through the pain to ensure her partner Locky Gilbert wouldn’t be forced to quit because of her.
Tuesday 7.30pm, the promise of a DS cull has every recruit on edge as they attempt the longest cat crawl of any course before receiving video messages from home. Two recruits will leave the course in the emotional episode.
It hurts so much
Seven become five after DS cull, candid confessions and a shock exit
Tonight on SAS Australia, the DS culled Ebanie Bridges from the course before receiving Anna Heinrich’s shock VW, while Locky Gilbert confessed he made himself cry on The Bachelor.
Navigating strong wind gusts 100 metres above a crashing ocean, recruits raced each other in the longest cat crawl of any season of SAS anywhere in the world. An agonising back injury didn’t stop Melissa Wu from crushing the task, while Millie Boyle suffered extreme rope burn on her private parts screaming: “Ah f***ing hell, oh my god, it hurts so much”.
Separated from their loved ones for 11 days, recruits were given the chance to watch a video message from home, with all seven choosing to take up the offer despite the impact it might have on them psychologically.
“Messages from home are a double-edged sword,” explained Chief Instructor Ant Middleton. “You see people who draw strength from it, they need that extra boost to get them through this course. But you also see it break people.”
As Locky broke down watching a video from his partner Irena, the DS questioned his show of emotion, observing his face looked dry. Locky separately confessed to using sad songs to get himself in the mood to cry while filming The Bachelor.
“It’s a really good technique,” he said. “That’s what made me cry on the finale. I was literally standing with headphones in as they were about to walk out. Car pulled up, boom, headphones in the pocket. I had to make myself cry.”
Earlier, the DS had informed recruits they would be making a cull before the day was out, a cutthroat process to get rid of anyone who does not meet the benchmark for the final stage of selection. Their decision came down to two recruits: #1 Ebanie and #10 Locky.
“Good is not good enough, we want excellence,” Ant told them. “What we’re looking for is the thinking solider. Be given any piece of information, divulge it there and then and execute the task at hand. It’s a unique mindset that we’re looking for, #1 you do not possess it; #10 grit, determination is no longer good enough and will not get you through. Safety [is] huge. You, you’re a danger to yourself and a danger to others.”
The DS ended up taking Ebanie’s number.
“Obviously I would have loved to have stayed til the end but I’m very proud of how far I’ve come,” said Ebanie. “The fact is that I gave it my all and I did try my best. I’ve definitely grown to understand to just take a step back, take a breath. Being in this group with these amazing people has been a great experience. God, I’m so grateful for what I’ve learned here. Very grateful.”
As Ebanie exited the compound, recruits were instructed to submerge themselves in the troughs. Anna refused telling Ant “I just can’t do this anymore” and handed over her number.
“I didn’t want to let anyone down tomorrow,” said Anna. “I feel like I’ve literally pushed myself beyond my limits. I’m so proud of absolutely everything I achieved.
Monday 7.30pm, it’s the final 48 hours of SAS selection. Recruits gather all their strength for a bone-chilling ice pit plunge and a torturous trek through dense mangroves, while writing death letters tests their emotional resilience.
Monday night
Nothing left in the tank
Melissa Wu bows out leaving four recruits to face final day of SAS selection
Tonight on SAS Australia , the course claimed its last casualty ahead of the final day of selection, with Olympic diver Melissa Wu quitting through injury and exhaustion.
In the final 48 hours of SAS selection, just five recruits from the original 17 remained: Melissa, retired NRL star Darius Boyd, reality TV personality Locky Gilbert, NRLW player Millie Boyle and motorsports presenter Riana Crehan.
The first task saw them plunge into a freezing pit of ice and fight through cold water shock to answer a series of rapid-fire questions. Locky was the only recruit to fail, struggling to provide reliable information, while Melissa acknowledged that physically she has nothing left to give.
In a gut-wrenching test of emotional strength, recruits then wrote and read out their death letters – the letter military personnel write to their loved ones before heading out on operations, just in case they don’t make it back.
With the temperature dropping and the weather closing in, recruits were tethered together to take on their last challenge of the day, a package extraction through five kilometres of dense mangroves in just 45 minutes.
Becoming more fatigued by the second, Melissa struggled to keep up with her teammates, ultimately deciding to VW for the good of the group.
Congratulating the “little pocket rocket” on her efforts, Chief Instructor Ant Middleton told Melissa: “We knew you had injuries, we knew you had little niggles and you didn’t moan once. And that’s why you’re so robust and you’ll go on to do amazing things. [But] it’s okay not to always be strong, you don’t always have to be that tough person that everyone relies on you to be. It’s okay to look to your peers and look to your loved ones.”
Melissa admitted: “Before I was just a diver, an athlete and everybody saw me as that and that alone. This experience has shown me that I’m a lot more than that. Just that strength of mind, strength of body, strength of character… this experience really pulled that out of me and showed me that I can be all of those things I am as an athlete but in a completely different way and in all areas of my life.”
The final four celebrated making it to the last day of selection by sharing a bruised yet precious apple.
Catch some of tonight’s memorable moments:
Locky’s gone quiet and Melissa’s got nothing left in the tank
Recruits are instructed to write their death letters
If you can operate in mangroves, you can operate anywhere
The four star recruits entering the final day of selection:
Darius Boyd, 34 – Retired NRL Star
Locky Gilbert, 32 – Reality TV Star
Millie Boyle, 23 – NRLW Player
Riana Crehan, 34 – Motorsports Presenter
Tuesday 7.30pm, the final four face their greatest test: a petrifying helicopter insertion into enemy territory, where they must cover their tracks before retrieving a bag from a 100-metre-high cliff face. Who will have what it takes to pass SAS selection?
A unique club
Hectic peer cull sees Locky depart before final three pass SAS selection
Tonight on SAS Australia, after enduring two hellish weeks of intense physical and psychological training, four recruits set out on the final day on course, hoping to pass SAS selection.
Retired NRL star Darius Boyd, reality TV personality Locky Gilbert, NRLW player Millie Boyle and motorsports presenter Riana Crehan had eight hours to prove to the DS they were worthy of passing selection.
Chief Instructor Ant Middleton explained: “The special forces selection process was originally designed for nobody to pass. When I was on selection, 202 people started our course and eight of us passed. We’re here to see if you can meet a certain criteria. We want to know have you got what it takes to put yourself in the most uncomfortable of uncomfortable positions to pass this course. We’re looking for integrity, grit, determination, passion, emotional intelligence, the thinking soldier. A team of individuals that can function together, that can work together, that can trust each other. That’s why we belong in a unique club.”
The first stage of final selection saw recruits drop from a helicopter into open seas, fight cold ocean currents and use an unpowered vessel to hit dry land, cover their tracks then locate a hidden cache containing keys to an escape vehicle and navigate to the safety of a lighthouse. Once the task was complete, recruits were then faced with a sickening decision – choose a teammate to cull from the course.
Millie chose Riana, Darius chose Locky, Riana chose Locky and Locky chose Riana leaving it up to the DS to break the deadlock. The DS sent Locky home.
“I’m f***ing devastated,” said Locky. “That was hectic. I think [the best way] to fight through the disappointment of making it to the last day is just think about what I’ve done. It’s being able to fail and learn from that and f*** I’ve failed. So now I just need to learn from it and take all these lessons into life and just become a better person.”
In the final test, Darius, Millie and Riana had to repel down a 100-metre-high cliff face to retrieve a vital kit, before climbing back up to the DS in just 15 minutes. The terrifying task saw the final three holding on for dear life above the rocks and crashing ocean, pushed to the limits of their bravery. Through sheer determination, all three successfully completed the mission and awaited to hear who, if any, had passed selection.
Ant’s news that they had all passed selection was met with a group hug, handshakes and tears.
Riana said: “This really has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my whole life. Like physically, mentally, emotionally… everything. It’s definitely life changing.”
Darius said: “To be honest it’s just such an amazing experience. I didn’t think it was possible. It’s just an amazing feeling.”
Millie said: “I am just buzzing with emotion. It’s been the longest two weeks of my life but the best two weeks. It’s just amazing.”
The new season will take place in the Middle East, as announced at today’s upfronts.
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They’re taking Pauline Hanson to the Middle East?
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There is a whole load of irony associated with that sentence, even if Pauline was from a parallel universe.
Here’s an idea. Why don’t they take her there and leave her there？I’m sure those governments would love to hear what she says about their faith.
The Daily Mail article also said
Other celebrities linked to the upcoming season of SAS Australia include troubled AFL star Ben Cousins and transgender footy great Dani Laidley.
When Seven was asked to please explain they declined. 
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Yes please. And don’t bring her back.
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According to MPs, she is too busy as a Senator for Queensland and doesn’t have the time to be on the show
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Craig McLachlan is the first confirmed signing for the new season.
UPDATE 6/3:
News Corp reports Peter Bol, Anthony Mundine and Boyd Cordner will also take part in the new season.
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